Old Maizeland School information

Old Maizeland School
Old Maizeland School
Location	Knott's Berry Farm, California
Coordinates	33°50′36″N 118°00′03″W / 33.8433916666667°N 118.000769444444°W / 33.8433916666667; -118.000769444444
Built	1868
Architectural style(s)	Wood
California Historical Landmark
Designated	April 8, 1960
Reference no.	729
Location of Old Maizeland School in California

The Old Maizeland School also called the Rivera School was designated a California Historic Landmark (No.729) on April 8, 1960. The Old Maizeland School was built in 1868 in what is today Pico Rivera, California, by James C. Shugg. James C. Shugg had five children: Alydia Caroline Shugg Gooch (1854–1938), Joannah Shugg Story (1857–1938), Thomas Shugg (1859–1902), Martha Jane Shugg Allison(1862–1946) and William E. Shugg (1863–1929). James C. Shugg and his wife, Esther Caroline Graham Shugg (1835–1908) (married in 1852), wanted each child to have a good education and built the school on his land. For 27 years it served as the School house in what was called the Rivera District, at 8910 East Shugg Lane, now called Slauson Avenue. The pioneers used the Rivera School District school house to teach their children. In 1896, being too small for teaching now, it was sold, moved to a nearby farm of Ablbert McDonald and use as storage shed. In 1950 the School house was seen as Historical building and move to the Rivera School District Grounds and restored to be a School museum. The museum idea did not work and a year later the school was put up for sale. ^[1]

In 1925, Walter Knott and wife Cordelia started a roadside stand selling berries and berry preserves alongside State Route 39 in what is now the City of Buena Park. His wife, Cordelia Knott, add fried chicken dinners to the stand and started "Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant" in 1934. The stand grew and grew with attractions, also fairs. In 1950 with the idea of a theme park and living museum, Knott's Berry Farm, Walter Knott purchased the Maizeland School. He installed the school house at his farm at 8039 Beach Boulevard in Buena Park, California. Today it is used as reptiles, insects and animal physiology museum called the Express Outpost.^[2][3]